Bellamy told Digital Spy of the ongoing storyline: "It's sad for myself and John because we don't work together as much, and we have worked together for eight years. In a way, it is like a divorce!

"But at the same time, our characters have to keep evolving and changing. Even though the audience might not like it, the story creates a debate. It's great that people have different opinions, as that means they care about the characters."

Middleton added: "One audience driver for the show is the debate around these things. You can't have debate if it's all one-sided. Instead people are taking the side of Laurel, taking the side of Marlon, or are taking the side of Ashley.

"It's all being debated over various water coolers, and any soap has to create that national debate to keep the audience feeling they're missing something if they're not tuning in!"

Middleton confessed that while he would be surprised to see Ashley and Laurel reunite, he would not rule it out.

He said: "There's a certain destructive element in the creation of stories. You can't have stories without change. God knows these characters have gone through huge stories this year, with big consequences!

"What's good is that we don't absolutely know the direction of the story. We don't absolutely know that it's the end for Laurel and Ashley. I very much doubt they'll be getting back together, but they'll still have a connection because of the children. It's very messy and that messiness is what we're playing at the moment."